The police seems to be determined not to allow the Social Media based protests planned to be held on Republic Day demanding Special category status to the Andhra Pradesh. DGP N Sambasiva Rao has categorically stated today that police cannot allow any congregation on the basis of Social Media appeals.

It may be recalled that several youth taking inspiration from the success of Tamilians Jallikattu stir, have resorted to organise similar silent protests on Thursday in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati. However, till now no individual or organisation claims leadership for such protests.

Asserting maintaining of law and order is their prime concern, he said it is not possible to allow such large events without someone owns responsibility. Stating that till now no one has approached the police seeking permission, he said that as per Supreme Court guidelines all necessary precautions should be taken for such large scale gatherings.

He also said that the Supreme Court insists that the organisers should give undertaking that they would be held responsible for any violent turnouts. The DGP asked “who would be held responsible here as till now no one is owning it?”.

Even if now someone approached the police seeking permission, the DGP has clearly indicated that it would not be possible for the police to verify security concerns with in a short notice. Recalling that on the Republic Day the entire force would be pre-occupied with other functions, he asked who would be held responsible if some stampede or bombing took place in the absence of proper security cover when over a lakh of people gathers.

However he made it clear that the police is not against for someone exercising freedom of speech and also not opposes their causes. “We are ready to permit any one till violence is not involved. But someone should own their responsibility”, he added. DGP cautioned that most of times such appeals from `unknown’ sources results in violence.